August 30, 2013

It's Finally Friday! (8): Interview with Cyndi Tefft

Hi guys! It's finally Friday, and I'm back with another edition of this meme! This week we have Cyndi Tefft, author of the Between series currently composed of Between, Hell Transporter, and Even In Darkness. I had a chance to read Between nearly a year ago, and while it wasn't my favorite book of all time, I did enjoy it. Paranormal romance fans and mature YA audiences, give it a shot--it might be right up your alley. Now, without further ado, the interview!

Zareen: What is your favorite book of all time?

Cyndi: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It was this series that made me fall in love with Scotland and decide I needed a Scottish Highlander of my own. :)

Zareen: What was your inspiration to write your book?

Cyndi: Strangely enough, I was watching a video interview with Stephenie Meyer where she said she was a stay at home mom who had a dream and decided to write it down. She made it sound like anyone could do it, so I decided to give it a try, just to see if I could. I wanted to write a book with a good versus evil plot, but I felt that angels and demons had already been done enough, so I came up with a story revolving around transporters who take souls to heaven (or to hell, depending!).

Zareen: What is one book you wish you had written?

Cyndi: I absolutely loved If I Stay by Gayle Forman. That book had me full-on ugly crying but left me in a good place at the end. One of my absolute faves.

Zareen: Why did you start writing books for young adults?

Cyndi: I originally wrote Between as an adult romance, knowing nothing about adult romances at the time (I became a voracious reader after I started writing). A commenter on Authonomy, where I had posted the book in its early stages, said that the voice had a YA feel to it. So I started reading YA to see what she meant, and she was right. I spent about 18 months revising Between into the book it is today.

Zareen: What makes your book so different from all the books out there?

Cyndi: I haven’t read another book about a realm in between earth and heaven where souls can manipulate their surroundings and relive moments of their lives. Time-travel, historical fiction, paranormal abilities, contemporary romance—it’s got pieces of everything.

Zareen: Are you currently working on anything new? If so, can we get a clue on what it is ;D?

Cyndi: I have two projects underway at the moment: the fourth and final book in the Between series, and a YA contemporary love story similar to The Fault In Our Stars.

Zareen: Any tips or tricks for aspiring writers?

Cyndi: There is a magnificent book called Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne that I would highly recommend for those starting to write. I made every newbie mistake in that book, which is another reason why I spent so much time revising Between after the first draft.

Zareen: What is your writing atmosphere like?

Cyndi: Because I work a full-time job and have a family, I really only get to write on Saturday mornings. I usually take my laptop and headphones to Panera and write for a few hours, losing myself in a story while tuning out the rest of the world. Occasionally, my characters will insist on more time with me and I secret myself in the bedroom to write after the kids go to sleep.

Speed Round Questions

Zareen: Favorite food?

Cyndi: Pizza

Zareen: If you were stranded on an island, what 5 things would you take? One person=one item!

Cyndi: Lighter (because I suck at matches), knife (self-explanatory), potato (so I could cut it up and grow more because who could live without potatoes??), my husband (handyman that he is), and a magic lamp with a Genie inside. (See what I did there about wishing for more wishes? Mwahahaha!)

Zareen: Turtle or fish?

Cyndi: Turtle (they’re so cute!)

Zareen: Reading or writing?

Cyndi: Reading. It’s so much easier and I can crank through way more books than I could possibly ever write.

Cyndi: I’d have to say Edinburgh, but I really love the whole of the Scottish Highlands. I’ve been twice and I would love to go again. Scotland holds the key to my heart.

Thank you so much for having me on the blog. I had a great time! :)

About Between

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

About the Author

Cyndi Tefft lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest where the weather is overcast and rainy, much like the Highlands of Scotland. So she was right at home when she got the chance to visit Eilean Donan Castle.

A self-proclaimed Scot freak, she loved every bit about the trip to Scotland: the people, the kilts, the accents, the fish & chips, the haggis...well okay, not the haggis.